Re: Portable Handheld VHF Radios
If you are abandoning a boat you are going to want to take more than just a handheld VHF. Youll want to prep before the need arises by having a bailout bag, everything you need together and ready to go. You dont have to worry about broadcast distance because your primary concern is contact with aircraft or vessel in the vicinity. Your general location will be known because your EPIRB will be active. Dont have an EPIRB? ... dont go more than a few miles offshore, and you don't need a handheld VHF.<br /><br />Major diff between handhelds is the water resistance. Unfortunately, the stds for rating this feature are misunderstood. There are only a couple models available that are reasonably waterproof.<br /><br />Uniden has a history as a lower quality product. The new line of Uniden fixed mount VHF is going heads up against Icom, which has a well deserved history of a top quality product, and Uniden is prevailing. Cant comment on the Uniden handhelds. If you are considering an older Undin model, I wouldn't. I would be looking at Std Horizon, Icom, and Simrad handhelds.<br /><br />Nice thing about the Std Horz is they come with a li-ion batt and charger. You can buy an inexpensive holder for AA batts to toss into your bailout bag. If/when the li-ion batt dies, pop in a couple AAs. And the Std Horz is one of the better models for water submersion.